The Cat Practice

4.8 (101)
145 W 24th St 3rd floor, New York, NY 10011, USA

Hours:

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

How to Save Money at The Cat Practice

Schedule Regular Vet Visits

One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.

Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions

Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.

Pet Insurance

Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.

How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?

Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024
Rating Provider Total Review
4.4 AKC 891
4.5 ASPCA 11,757
4.9 Embrace 17,158
4.9 Fetch 18,571
4.2 Figo 2,602
4.7 Hartville 165
4.9 Healthy Paws 10,008
4.9 Lemonade 805
4.6 ManyPets 2,343
4.0 MetLife 652
4.8 Nationwide 21,407
4.3 Pet Assure 12
4.5 PetPartners 113
4.3 Pets Best 12,232
4.6 Pumpkin 1,473
4.6 Spot 7,033
4.9 Trupanion 73,743
4.8 Prudent Pet 125

Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.

Thinking of insuring your pet?

Get Quotes & Compare

Getting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask

Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:

Tell me about your experience with [pet type].

Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.

How do you handle emergencies?

You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.

How do you communicate with pet owners?

Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.

Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?

Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.

Do you have any questions for me about my pet?

This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.

Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?

Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.

Reviews from Google

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Katherine Schiano

Amazing practice, amazing doctor, amazing staff!!! They know how to treat your cat just perfectly. My Mia was so well behaved with them I couldn’t believe it was her. Dr. Dougherty is very knowledgeable about cats in general and is great the way he handle his cat patients, not all Vets can handle cats properly, I strongly recommend Dr. Dougherty and his practice.

posted: 09/22/2023

Kristin Lukich Berkowitz

Hands down the best cat vet in NYC! Dr. Eric Dougherty is a kind, experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate vet, and I felt like my cat was very well taken care of. It was clear that he really cared about my cat and her health. I was previously told that my cat would have to be sedated for a proper check up, but not with The Cat Practice! They handled my pet with care and were able to do her check up with no sedation. Thank you for being such a wonderful vet!

posted: 07/21/2022

Alina De Almeida

Very impressed with the facility (definitely by far the most comfortable cat friendly experience) in my opinion. The whole team was very pleasant and the doctor also demonstrated care and professionalism while treating my cat. I highly recommend.

posted: 06/27/2023

Natallia H

So far one visit but i am impressed. Diagnosis that could not be made for a year - within 20 min of exam and careful listening and right questions. Dr. Dougherty and his staff are professional and friendly. And all that without giving arm and leg. Thank you that my cat is not in pain any more!

posted: 05/24/2023

Sarah Sayavong

This is the practice I trust the most with my kitty baby. When I first moved to the city, I visited many vet practices, and this was the one that impressed me the most. Even after I moved to a further neighborhood, I wouldn't compromise my kitty's care and take a long cab ride every year to this location. Update: still a great vet with caring people

posted: 06/20/2023